RIVERSIDE- More than 1,000 members of a union representing janitors, social workers, nurses and other county employees linked up today to form a human chain around Riverside County's Administrative Center in a show of solidarity against the county's plans to cut their wages and benefits.

"We came out here to show the Board of Supervisors that the workers care about what's happening to them," said Catherine Eidenelson, a negotiator for Service Employees International Union Local 721.

Only two weeks remain before a county-threatened deadline in negotiations with SEIU over a new three-year collective bargaining agreement.

The county is seeking 10 percent cuts in workers' wages and benefits as part of a general cost-reduction strategy to prevent a projected $50.6 million structural budget deficit in fiscal year 2009-10 from widening.

The county's discretionary income -- including property tax revenue, sales receipts and investment earnings -- is down $130 million because of the economic trough, according to the Executive Office, which sought 10 percent across-the-board spending cuts from every county department.

To make up the revenue shortfall, the county has dipped into reserves, ordered a hiring freeze and scaled down departmental managers' benefits by roughly 10 percent, chopping pension contributions and slashing 75 percent of the vacation time that can be redeemed. All supervisors and elected county

officials have voluntarily taken 10 percent pay cuts.

According to the union, the county's cost-cutting plans would effectively reduce members' incomes 20 to 30 percent annually after the impact of mandatory furloughs, health insurance reductions and direct 5.5 percent wage cuts are factored together.

Eidenelson complained that county Human Resources chief Ron Komers, the county's lead negotiator, refuses to consider SEIU members' suggestions of how to save money without rolling back workers' wages and benefits.

Of 84 cost-saving recommendations SEIU submitted two months ago, just a few, including early retirements and lower starting salaries for new employees, Advertisement
would net the kind of savings the Executive Office is seeking, Eidenelson said.

Komers was not immediately available for comment. But during the board's June 30 meeting, Chairman Jeff Stone said that while he understood workers' concerns, the county is "experiencing extraordinary economic times, unlike anything I've seen."

"The bottom line is, we have significant decreases in revenue outside our control," he said.

Outside the County Administrative Center today, SEIU members chanted defiance.

"When public services are under attack, we stand up and fight back," workers shouted, holding up purple signs that read "Hold Onto Public Services."

The SEIU members, clad in purple T-shirts with their union's logo printed on front and back, wrapped around the county building, forming a complete circle from the front entrance and along the sidewalks of three streets, for about 15 minutes.

At one point, there was an attempt at a rolling wave like at a sporting event, but generally the workers held up signs and cheered passing motorists honking their horns.

"A workforce that trusts its employer digs in and does the extra work and makes things happen," Eidenelson said. "By showing us they value what we're doing, we'll dig in and help the county negotiate with the other (11) unions. The county has an opportunity to take all this passion and direct it

toward helping the county. All they have to do is treat us fairly."

According to Eidenelson, if the impasse continues and the county unilaterally moves ahead with across-the-board cuts, walkouts or a strike is possible.

More than 6,000 Riverside County employees belong to SEIU -- the highest proportion of any union.

"We hope the board intercedes and brings in a mediator," Eidnelson said.

Several hundred SEIU members are expected at Tuesday's board meeting, during which a number may speak on the county's proposed cuts will affect them.

1. Caliber says :

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2. mom of lots says :

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